A portrayal of the feminine : a visual study using drawing and painting as a means of exploring womanhood from the Western perspective

Abstract

This research explores historical and contemporary understandings of the feminine from a Western perspective. At the outset, it traces the roles and the narratives assigned to women, through different art movements, using drawing and painting, across the ages. Moreover, framed by research from six diverse fields of thought, namely gender studies, history of art, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and theology, the study highlights the definitions and understandings of the feminine ideal. A qualitative research design was adopted and through the use of semi-structured interviews with academics, the spirit of the feminine, the impact of time and culture, and the variables which impact on its maintenance, such as biology, social constructs, and the patriarchy, were studied. Data analysis featured thematic analysis, wherein two broad themes were identified from the interviews. Consequently, the practical part of the project explored the emerging themes and subthemes, giving rise to nine practical projects, composed of 18 artworks. One project was held as part of an art residency in the Netherlands. Each artwork delved into a particular narrative arising from the interviews, represented in a classical or a contemporary manner. The resultant projects are a celebration of the feminine, the multiple descriptions of the female, and the diverse facets of womanhood.